Earth News, Earth Science, Energy Technology, Environment News

December 04, 2015

Lazy microbes are key for soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration
Vienna, Austria (SPX) Dec 04, 2015
The world's soils store on the order of 2500 gigatons of carbon, which is three times the amount in the atmosphere (or equivalent to 9170 gigatons of CO2). Yet the mechanisms behind this storage are not completely understood. A new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows that lazy, or 'cheater' microbes, which rely on those around them to make enzymes for digesting plant material lead to the build-up of organic material in soil by regulating the rate of decomposition and incre ... read more

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Eyes in the sky track health of Earth's African 'lung' High in the sky, a satellite passes over the equatorial forest of west Africa, the Earth's second largest "lung" after the Amazon. ... more		Rapid plankton growth in ocean seen as sign of carbon dioxide loading A microscopic marine alga is thriving in the North Atlantic to an extent that defies scientific predictions, suggesting swift environmental change as a result of increased carbon dioxide in the ocea ... more		China pollution pledge hopes to soothe smog fears: analysts A Chinese pledge to upgrade the nation's coal-fired power plants to cut pollution is aimed mainly at soothing domestic fears over dangerous smog, rather than tackling climate change emissions, analysts said Thursday. ... more
				Poor nations warn climate deal will fail without money deal Angry developing nations warned Thursday that UN talks aimed at averting catastrophic climate change would fail unless a bitter feud over hundreds of billions of dollars was resolved. ... more		For Spanish fishermen, sea's bounty includes plastic At sunrise in the fishing port of Villajoyosa in eastern Spain, a fleet of traditional fishing boats sets out on the Mediterranean to hunt for cuttlefish, prawns - and plastic bottles. ... more

Animal evolution: Revolution averted Who came first - sponges or comb jellies? A new study by an team of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich reaffirms that sponges are the oldest animal phylum - and restores the classical v ... more		Why Europe will soon be cold What is the climate waiting for Russia and Europe in 15-20 years? Will be there weather abnormalities in the coming decades? Will some areas experience more severe winter, while the others will have ... more		Rise of the robots: the promise of physical AI Amazon robotics lead casts doubt on eye-catching humanoids 'Western tech dominance fading' at Lisbon's Web Summit		Soil from deep under Oregon's Coast Range unveils frosty past climate Lush greenery rich in Douglas fir and hemlock trees covers the Triangle Lake valley of the Oregon Coast Range. Today, however, geologists across the country are more focused on sediment samples dati ... more
				Theory of 'smart' plants may explain the evolution of global ecosystems It's easy to think of plants as passive features of their environments, doing as the land prescribes, serving as a backdrop to the bustling animal kingdom. But what if the ecosystems of the wo ... more		A common mechanism for human and bird sound production When birds and humans sing it sounds completely different, but now new research reported in the journal Nature Communications shows that the very same physical mechanisms are at play when a bird sin ... more

Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison & Memory Foam Mattress Review

Researchers confirm original blood vessels in 80 million-year-old fossil Researchers from North Carolina State University have confirmed that blood vessel-like structures found in an 80 million-year-old hadrosaur fossil are original to the animal, and not biofilm or othe ... more		Fossil dinosaur tracks give insight into lives of prehistoric giants A newly discovered collection of rare dinosaur tracks is helping scientists shed light on some of the biggest animals ever to live on land. Hundreds of footprints and handprints made by plant-eating ... more		'The war of tomorrow will begin in space': Macron UN watchdog calls on Iran to urgently allow 'long overdue' uranium stockpile verification How drones are altering contemporary warfare		Water-clearning photocatalysts work better after being microwaved Photocatalysts are materials that absorb sunlight and speed up chemical reactions. Some are used to cleanup wastewater. But though they're considered a "green technology," they're not always so eco-friendly. ... more
Honduran army goes to war against invading bugs For Honduran soldiers fanning out in the pine forest the enemy is like no other: numbering in the thousands, invading a sizeable chunk of their country and causing incalculable environmental damage. ... more		Elephants: the forgotten giants at Africa-China summit When the Chinese president and African leaders meet this week to bolster economic ties, the elephant in the room will be the trade in ivory - and conservationists want the issue on the table. ... more		MSF, Greenpeace launch migrant rescue operation off Greece The Doctors Without Borders charity and environmental group Greenpeace have launched a joint operation to rescue migrants crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece, they said Thursday. ... more		Australia says new analysis shows MH370 hunt in right area Australia on Thursday said fresh analysis of data on missing jet MH370 confirmed authorities are searching in the right place, with hopes remaining that it will one day be found. ... more

	Rescuers race to reach victims of deadly India floods Thousands of rescuers raced to evacuate residents from deadly flooding Thursday, as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the southern state of Tamil Nadu to survey the devastation. ... more		Indonesian landslide buries 18 villagers A landslide triggered by torrential rains Thursday engulfed a village in western Indonesia, burying 18 people, an official said. ... more

China's Shenzhou-20 astronauts return to Earth after delay

Blue Origin launches NASA Mars mission and nails booster landing

Race for first private space station heats up as NASA set to retire ISS

Hurricane season shatters records		India deploys troops in south as deadly floods worsen		China's Xi in S.Africa ahead of regional summit		Toil and trouble in China over Nobel medicine prize		India court demands action over Delhi's filthy air
Rockefeller-inspired climate action mobilizes $3.4 trillion		Money row threatens efforts to seal historic climate pact		USGS projects large loss of Alaska permafrost by 2100		Cameroon army kills 100 Boko Haram fighters, frees 900 hostages: ministry		Russian TV host reveals HIV-positive status live on air

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Big data reveals glorious animation of Antarctic bottom water

UF creates trees with enhanced resistance to greening

Indonesia's Papua battles AIDS epidemic

Forest Service scientists improve US forest carbon accounting

Rare fossil of a horned dinosaur found from 'lost continent'

Plant defense as a biotech tool

Nicaragua volcano belches ash, causes fears of eruption

Beijing factories shut amid smog nightmare

Senegalese villages swallowed by the sea

Mugabe 'overjoyed' to host rare VIP visitor in China's Xi

Nicaragua refuses to make carbon-cutting pledge

Obama warns of climate security risks as tough talks begin

China cloning pioneer offers vision of brave new world

Peru ethnic group launches autonomous rule bid

Japan fleet sets sail for Antarctic whale hunt

ORNL process could be white lightning to electronics industry

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